Hello Harrisonburg

Chad Layman is spearheading an effort to reduce veteran suicides.   For information about the upcoming event, visit: https://www.classy.org/harrisonburg/events/fine-earth-adventure-race-benefiting-k9s-for-warriors/e82532  

Did you know Harrisonburg has a world-class audio recording studio, that rivals the best studios in Nashville and New York City?  It's true - and you can hear from co-owner and local-guy-who-left-and-came-back Chris Jackson in this episode.  

Did you know Harrisonburg gets over 1,000,000 visitors per year?  Brenda Black is the Director of Tourism for the City of Harrisonburg.  Listen to this episode to hear how she provides leadership in positioning Harrisonburg as a premiere tourist destination.  Each year, she sets a strategy to feature our retail, food establishments, hotel and lodging, and attractions.  She then applies best practices in partnering with local, statewide, and mid-Atlantic businesses and organizations to achieve. Links and Resources Visitor Services open Mon-Sun 9am-5pm 540-432-8935 Harrisonburg Tourism Hardesty-Higgins House Events/Activities Rocktown Gift Shoppe The Valley Turnpike Museum The Civil War Orientation Center Heritage Bakery & Cafe Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Virginia Tourism Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation

Hear Kim Kirk, Director of Promotions for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, share her collaborative and entrepreneurial work to benefit the small business that make downtown Harrisonburg rock!

Susan Muterspaugh is Director of the Rockingham Ballet Theatre. Listen to learn about the organization that creates the annual production of The Nutcracker and other productions. Links and Resources Rockingham Ballet Theatre Facebook Tickets for the April 27th Raise Your Pints for Ballet at Brothers Brewing PBS A Ballerina's Tale Listening Thank You Gift Email Susan at rockinghamballettheatre [at] gmail.com to get a half-price ticket (with purchase of one at full price) for the upcoming May 14 or 15 performance.

Eastern Mennonite University's President Loren Swartzendruber is featured in this episode of Hello Harrisonburg. As he nears retirement, he reflects on his time at EMU, major accomplishments, and the importance of civility in value-laden debates. Links and Resources: EMU.edu Leyman Gbowee, EMU Graduate and Nobel Peace Prize Winner EMU Listening Process regarding Non-Discrimination Policy Harrisonburg Children's Museum FairFieldCenter.org Golf Courses See www.HelloHarrisonburg.rocks/Loren  

The Hemp Road Trip is in Harrisonburg!  Hemp can be the source for fuel oil, parachutes the save presidents, batteries - even paper that our Declaration of Independence was written upon.  Rick Trojan, Colorado hemp farmer and advocate, and driver Coach Freddie, join Harrisonburg locals Chase Milner and Russell Presnell to educate listeners on the rationale and potential  of the Hemp Road Show' Hear the history of hemp being made illegal to grow in the United States (we're the only G7 country not allowed to grow hemp).  Further, hear the economic development potential for hemp in Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley. HempRoadTrip.com iHemp Revolution podcast Virginia Industrial Hemp Coalition CoachFreddie.com Hemp for Victory video Old Dominion Hemp Listener Thank You Gifts Will be uploaded shortly to this webpage: www.helloharrisonburg.rocks/hemp

On his first day as Executive Director of WMRA, Al Bartholet is told the station is losing $84,000 in funding because the area is "too big."  In the face of declining public radio funds and a struggling local media environment, WMRA has created a Local News & Information Fund, set the record for the LEAST on-air fundraising in the entire country last year, and is currently the #1 radio station for 25-54 year-olds in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham area.  Al Bartholet is the guest for this episode. www.helloharrisonburg.rocks/albartholet

Father Daniel Robayo, the rector of Harrisonburg's Emanuel Episcopal Church, is a leader in the Intefaith Association of Harrisonburg-Rockingham.  The Interfaith Association has been active for 30 years, and came out with a statement in the last few weeks in response to the fallout after the Paris attacks.  Hear the Father speak about his motivations, and the recently adopted, "Call for Action to Create Mutual Understanding and Acceptance in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County." The statement is at www.HelloHarrisonburg.rocks/fatherrobayo  Note: YOU can endorse it!   Note: YOU can endorse it!  

Learn about the Rocktown Rugby Club and Daylon Teel! Links and Shout Outs Rocktown Rugby Club Facebook Page Rocktown Rollers - Roller Derby T & E Meats USA Rugby Ruby's (Clementine Basement) James McHone Jewelry Shameless Plug Join the team!  Go to New Player's Day on Feb 6th or just contact them via Facebook. Go to a game!  See games on the Facebook page Games 1p on Saturday at Thomas Harrisonburg Middle School Sponsor the team! Listener Thank You Gift Find Daylon and mention the Hello Harrisonburg podcast and get a Sheetz coupon book!

Lori Kizner is taking her 25 years of experience in school counseling and administration to the directorship of the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisonburg and Rockingham. Boys and Girls Club of Harrisonburg and Rockingham - www.BCGHR.org Shout Outs Forbes Center at James Madison University Boys and Girls Club of America Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham Shameless Plug Buy a $10 Discount Card to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisonburg and Rockingham -and save even more money than it costs! Click here to buy. Listener Thank You Gift Head into the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center, find the Boys and Girls Club office, say, "Hello Harrisonburg" and receive a free BGCHR notepad and tour of the facility.  

Hear Josie Showalter, the Harrisonburg Farmers Market Manager, give a little background about this thriving community-building building market. Harrisonburg Farmers Market All the Vendors Summer Market: April-Thanksgiving Tuesday and Saturday 8AM-1PM Winter Market: December-March Saturday Only 9AM-1PM Links and Shoutouts Friendly City Food Coop Harrisonburg Downtown Culinary District Recommended Book Soup Night: Recipes for Creating Community around a Pot of Soup  by Maggie Stuckey Listener Thank You Gift Listen or sign up for the newsletter to learn what the Listener Thank You Gift is!

Thomas Jenkins is co-owner of Harrisonburg's Shenandoah Bicycle Company, and was instrumental in the growth of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition. Links and Shout Outs Shenandoah Bicycle Company Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition Bike coalition happy hours 2nd Mondays 7pm at Ruby's (Clementine Basement) Bluestone Trail Rocktown Trails at Hillendale Park Harrisonburg Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan George Washington National Forest trails Listening Thank You Gift Tune in to hear a chance to get 50% your next order at PULP, SBC's healthy smoothie option. Book Recommendation Asphalt Nation: How the Automobile Took Over America and How We Can Take It Back

Bucky and Brent Berry talk about the 7th Annual Brent Berry Food Drive that benefits the local chapter of the Salvation Army.  The episode is recorded in front of the Walmart on Burgess Road, in a Harrisonburg City Transit Bus which is being filled by the generous donations of those coming by.  Vice Mayor Richard  260 hrs are spent by Bucky and Brent collecting food and monetary donations.  They'll be there until Dec 27th.

Dave Briggman is not known for nuance, but might surprise some listeners in this interview about how his perspectives on immigration have changed since his employment with NEXUS Services. Episodes 45-49 are sponsored by NEXUS Services and focus on immigration in Harrisonburg. http://www.librebynexus.com  

Dayanara grew up in El Salvador while her mother was in the USA after being granted asylum. Hear her share her story. Episodes 45-49 focus on immigration and are sponsored by NEXUS Services. http://www.librebynexus.com/    

Hear Ayhu, an immigrant from Ethiopia, explain her pursuit of an education and citizenship in the USA in order that she can become a cardiologist.  Ayhu received a scholarship for college from NEXUS and is currently enrolled at Eastern Mennonite University. Episodes 45-49 are sponsored by NEXUS Services. http://www.librebynexus.com

Lana shares her story of immigrating to the USA to seek asylum from Honduras due to her fear for her safety in Honduras as a transgender person. Episode 45-49 focus on immigration and are sponsored by NEXUS Services. http://www.librebynexus.com/  

How does immigration impact Harrisonburg? Want ideas how to fix the system? Hear Mike Donovan of NEXUS Services. Episodes 45-49 focus on immigration and are sponsored by NEXUS Services. http://www.librebynexus.com/

If you had any question about how connected this world is, listen to Artisans' Hope's General Manager Brad Burrow describe this Harrisonburg social enterprise's success stories.  Part of Harrisonburg Gift and Thrift, Artisans' Hope support fair trade food, gifts, and more at the retail location on Mt. Clinton Pike near Eastern Mennonite University. Listen for a way to get free chocolate! Links and Shout Outs Artisans' Hope Harrisonburg Gift and Thrift Book Savers of Virginia Mennonite Central Committee Learn a Bike, Earn a Bike Women's Bean Project  Our Community Place New Community Project Ten Thousand Villages Friendly City Food Coop Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance